Helmet structure

ABSTRACT

A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chin strap, said ear caps and said chin strap being removably attached to the inside surface of said helmet structure.

United States Patent [191 Arai et a1.

[4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 HELNIET STRUCTURE Inventors: Hirotake Arai; MichioAri, both of No. 12 Higashi 2-chome, Oomiya, Saitama, Japan Filed: I May9, 1974 Appl. No.: 468,271

Foreign Application Priority Data May 14, 1973 Japan 48-56382 May 14,1973 Japan 48-56383 US. Cl 2/3 R Int. Cl. A4213 l/08 Field of Search 2/3R, 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,422 12/ 1944 Ludwell2/3 A X 2,415,214 2/19 47 Lewis 2/3 R 2,763,863 9/1956 Bowers. 2/3 R3,447,162 6/1969 Aileo 2/3 R 3,470,564 I D/i969 Aileo 2/3 R PrimaryExaminer-Alfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, or FirmStewart and Kolasch,Ltd.

[ 7] ABSTRACT A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and achin strap, said ear caps and said chin strap being removably attachedto the inside surface of said helmet structure.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.14,1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,911,496

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,911,496

FIG.

U.S. Patent 0a,:14, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,911,496

US. Patent 0 t. 14, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,911,496

FIG. 6

HELMET STRUCTURE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to a helmet comprising an earcap, a chin-strap and awearing belt which are removably attached to said helmet along theinside surface thereof.

In conventional helmet structures, the ear-cap is usually riveted to themain body of the helmet and so the user cannot help but feeluncomfortablelf the ear-cap is fixed too tightly, the user becomesreadily fatigued which can place him in some danger. Furthermore,although the ear-cap is in direct contact with the users skin, it cannotbe cleaned or changed because it is fixed to the helmet body. Thus, theconventional ear-caps have been used under dangerous and unsanitaryconditions.

The conventional chin-strap used for the helmet is also riveted to thehelmet body, thereby making it almost impossible to replace it when itbecomes dirty or worn. Some chin-straps are removably attached to thehelmet, however, because of the poor attachment, they tend to becomeunhooked even when they are in their proper position.

As for the wearing band which is wound around the inside surface of thehelmet, because of its location, it absorbs sweat and thus is oftensimply named a sweat band. The wearing band is removable only when usedin maintenance caps, but when used in vehicle and aviation helmets, itis still tightly fixed to said helmets and cannot be removed.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the prior artdeficiencies in helmet structures used, for example, in vehicle andaviation transportation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved helmetstructure which contains an earcap, a chin-strap and a wearing bandwhich can be conveniently attached to and removed from said helmetstructure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedhelmet structure which is sanitary and substantially danger proof.

Other object and further scope of applicability of the present inventionwill become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; itshould be understood, however, that the detailed description andspecific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention willbecome more fully understood from the detailed description givenhereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way ofillustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present inventionand wherein,

FIG. 1 is a partially cut cross-sectional view showing one embodiment ofthe helmet of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut frontal, sectional view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the attachment of theear-cap and the chin-strap;

FIG. 4 is a broken-up view showing the elements of FIG. 3 individually;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodi-.

ment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,wherein the same reference numerals are used throughout the variousviews to designate identical elements, the helmet body A comprises acovering member (shell) a-l having. a given shape and made of a hardmaterial, such as, for example, strengthened plastics, and ashock-absorbing liner a-2 having a bowl shape and made from materialssuch as styrene foam, and the like. The liner is secured to the innersurface of said covering member 11-1. A cushion a-3 is fixed to the top,inner surface of said shock-absorbing liner a-2.

The shock-absorbing liner a-2 is shaped in the form of a bowl whereinthe portion thereof receiving the users ears is cut out and an ear-cap 4is set therein. A wearing band 5 is removably provided inside theshockabsorbing liner a-2. Metal fittings of the chin-strap B are mountedin the ear-cap 4. Said metal fittings include a circular seat plate 1and an enlarged head studlike element 2 for fixing said seat plate 1 tothe helmet body A. The seat plate is fixed by the stud-like element 2 tothe covering member a-l at a position where the ear-cap 4 is located.The seat plate 1 has an edge 6 integrally provided on the upper portionthereof to keep the stud-like element 2 from moving upwardly.

The stud-like element 2 is so set as to fix the seat plate 1 to theinside surface of the helmet body A. It has an enlarged head portion 2integrally provided at the inside edge thereof to keep the key hole 3from coming off the apertured element stud-like element 2.

The key hole apertured element 3 is made from a metal plate or asynthetic resin plate and shaped in a -form on both sides of thestud-like element 2. The central portion of the apertured element 3 ishollow and forms a stepped portion in which the lowest portion thereofis provided with a hole 7 having a diameter slightly larger than that ofthe stud-like element 2. A guide slot 8 connects with said hole 7 toenable the enlarged head portion 2' of the stud-like element 2 to passtherethrough.

The attachment of the apertured element 3 will now be described. First,the enlarged head portion 2 of the stud-like element 2 is placed throughthe guide slot 8 of the apertured element 3. The apertured element 3then is slid upwardly to place the stud-like element2 into the hookinghole 7 and position the enlarged head 7 portion 2' under the steppedportion 9. Thus, when pulled in the downward direction, the aperturedelement 3 is tightly secured against the stud-like element 2.

Accordingly, when the chin-strap B is in use, the hooking piece 3 isprevented from moving upwardly by the edge 6 of the seat plate 1 whichis positioned against the stepped portion 9 of the apertured element 3.The apertured element 3 is also prevented from coming off by theenlarged head portion 2' of the stud-like element 2. Thus, only whenrotated upwardly around the stud-like element 2 can the chin-strap B betaken off. The chin-strap can be prevented from coming off whenever usedalong with the helmet.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. On the insidesurface of the hook 12 is provided a triangular enlarged head portion12"having the top thereof arranged backwardly. The hooking piece 13 hasa hooking hole 14 having almost the same shape as the enlarged portion12 withzthe top portion thereof being arranged in the downwarddirection.

When setting the hooking piece 13 on the hook 12, the hooking piece 13is first positioned in such a way that the hooking hole 14 correspondsto the enlarged head portion 12' of the hook 12. The chin-strap B. is

then moved into the using position by rotating the hooking hole 14 ofthe hookingpiece 13 at right angles to the enlarged head portion 12'thereby securely fitting the hooking piece 13. Thus, the hooking piece13 can be removed from the hook 12 only by aligning the hooking piece 13with the enlarged head portion 12'.

Furthermore, the seat plate 1 and the stud-like element 2 jointlysupport the ear-cap 4. By setting the seat plate 1 into an opening 4 cutapproximately in the cen* tral portion of a base 4, the ear-cap 4 issecurely supported on the insidesurface of the helmet body A. Thus, theear-cap 4 can, be removed alongwith the chin-strap B.

The wearing band will be prepared in the following way. Theshock-absorbing liner, a-2 contains holes 15 provided inappropriateplaces thereof. A flexible head pin 16, havinga cylindrical shape andmade of a flexible material, for example, rubber, is set loosely intosaid holes 15. The outer edge of said flexible head pin.

16 is fitted with a fastening plate 17 to the shell a-l and the inneredge thereof forming the enlarged head portion 18 communicates with thewearing band 5..

The flexible head pin 16 is cylindrical in shape and made from rubber ora soft plastic. At one edge of the flexible stopping member is formedthe enlarged head portion which is integral therewith: The flexible headpin16 is loosely set in the hole 15 so that its enlarged ,head portion18 is positioned inside the shockabsorbing liner a-2 and within afastening hole 19 of the fastening plate 17.

The fastening plate, 17 has the shape of a disk and is made'from a hardsynthetic resinous material or the like. Its central portion containsthe fastening hole 19 with a diameter smaller than that of thecylindrical portion of the head pin 16.

The fastening hole 19 contains grooves 20 cut radially on the openingsurface thereof'so that the cylindri-w the hole 19 is so tightened as toprevent the member 16.

cal portion of the flexible head pin 16 inserted through from comingoff. FIG. 2 shows four of such grooves.

As shown in the drawings, the fastening plate 17 is inserted into thefastening hole 19 so as. to position the top surface of the plate 17' inthe same plane with that;

the head pin 16 to integrally form a fitting member a having a fittinghole appropriately disposed therein.

In fitting the wearing band 5 to the helmet, the enlarged portion 18 ofthe flexible head pin 16-which projects inwardly from theshock-absorbing liner a-2 is deformed and expanded so as to be insertedinto'the hole a of the fitting member a. When the enlarged head portion18 isrestored to its original shape, thefitting member a is securedbetween the insidesurface of the shock-absorbing liner 11-2 and theenlargedhead portion 18.

By pulling the enlarged head portion 18 of the flexi-- ble head pin 16and pressing member 16 to make its diameter smaller than that of, thefitting hole a, the fitting member a can be removed from engagementwiththe head portion 18-and thus the wearing band 5 can be easilyremoved.

The flexible stopping. member 16 "can be fitted to theshock-absorbinguliner (2-2. in any other .way than that shown in thedrawings. What is important is thatthe member 16 must be. flexiblyfitted to the shockabsorbing liner a-2.Finally, a cover 10 is providedover:

the stud-like element 2 and the apertured element 3.

According to the present invention, both the ear-cap Once. again, thewearing band can be attached and 1 removed by pulling and pressing theenlarged head portion of the flexible stopping member fitted to theshock-absorbing liner to make its diametersmaller than that of the holeprovided in the fitting member of the wearing band. And when properlyattached, the band is secured between the shock-absorbing liner and the.enlarged head portion, and thus is prevented from com ing out.

Thus, unlike the conventional bands, the new band of the presentinvention can easily be removed and changed, ordirty bandscan beremoved, washed, and reinstalled.

According to the present invention, no stress is ap-. plied to thehardmaterials forming the covering member, because the flexible stoppingmember is fitted to the shock-absorbing liner. Furthermore, becausesoft,

flexible members such as rubber, are used instead of l the metal headsof rivets and the like, which projectinwardly from theshock-absorbingliner, the helmet of the present invention can be usedwith: added safety.

- The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the samemay be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the,

spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the followingclaims.

' What is claimed is:

' 1. A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chin-strap,said ear-caps and said chin-strap being removably attached to the-insidesurface of said helmet structure, a wearing bandremovably attached tothe inside surface of said helmet structure, saidhelmet structure beingprovided with a stud-like element at both positionswhere the.ear-capsare located, said stud-like element projecting inwardly fromthe inside surfaces thereof, an apertured element attached to both endsof the chin-strap, said apertured element being movably attached to saidstud-like element sothat the apertured element can be detached and thechin-strap removed only when the chin-strap is rotated upwardly, saidhelmet structure also having a shockabsorbing liner which is cut out onboth sides of the helmet to receive said ear-caps, said stud-likeelement extending through and supporting said ear-caps.

2. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein said structure contains anoutside covering shell having inside and outside surfaces and seatplates fixed to the in- I side surface of said covering shell by saidstud-like elestrap is rotated upwardly.

4. The helmet structure of claim 2, wherein the aperture in theapertured element is slightly larger and has substantially the sameshape as the enlarged head portion of the stud-like element, saidenlarged head portion being canted at an angle different from the normalwearing position of the chin-strap so that said aperturecl element canbe removed from the stud-like element only when it is rotated tocorrespond to the position of the enlarged head portion.

5. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein said shock absorbing linercontaining a plurality of apertures provided with a flexible head pin,the outside edge of said head pin being fixed with a fastening plate andthe inside edge thereof having an enlarged head portion integrallyprovided thereon, said wearing band containing sections disposed betweensaid enlarged head portion and said shock-absorbing liner.

1. A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chinstrap,said ear-caps and said chin-strap being removably attached to the insidesurface of said helmet structure, a wearing band removably attached tothe inside surface of said helmet structure, said helmet structure beingprovided with a stud-like element at both positions where the ear-capsare located, said stud-like element projecting inwardly from the insidesurfaces thereof, an apertured element attached to both ends of thechinstrap, said apertured element being movably attached to saidstud-like element so that the apertured element can be detached and thechin-strap removed only when the chin-strap is rotated upwardly, saidhelmet structure also having a shock-absorbing liner which is cut out onboth sides of the helmet to receive said ear-caps, said stud-likeelement extending through and supporting said ear-caps.
 2. The helmetstructure of claim 1, wherein said structure contains an outsidecovering shell having inside and outside surfaces and seat plates fixedto the inside surface of said covering shell by said stud-like elements,said stud-like elements containing an enlarged head portion integrallyprovided at the inside edge thereof and spaced apart from the seatplates, said enlarged head portion of said stud-like elements and saidseat plates defining a zone for attaching the apertured element of thechin-strap.
 3. The helmet structure of claim 2, wherein the seat platecontains an inwardly extending edge integrally provided on the upperportion thereof so that said apertured element attached to the stud-likeelement can be removed from the stud-like element when the chin-strap isrotated upwardly.
 4. The helmet structure of claim 2, wherein theaperture in the apertured element is slightly larger and hassubstantially the same shape as the enlarged head portion of thestud-like element, said enlarged head portion being canted at an angledifferent from the normal wearing position of the chin-strap so thatsaid apertured element can be removed from the stud-like element onlywhen it is rotated to correspond to the position of the enlarged headportion.
 5. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein saidshock-absorbing liner containing a plurality of apertures provided witha flexible head pin, the outside edge of said head pin being fixed witha fastening plate and the inside edge thereof having an enlarged headportion inTegrally provided thereon, said wearing band containingsections disposed between said enlarged head portion and saidshock-absorbing liner.